WRITERS' RUMPUS

Writing Side by Side: Adriana Mather and James Bird on Books, Family, and Finding the Magic

July 7, 2026 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

Writing is often described as a solitary pursuit. Most of us spend our days alone with our thoughts, our characters, and a blinking cursor. Yet

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Celebrating America’s Birthday with a talented author/illustrator team!

July 3, 2026 Marcia Strykowski

We’re just in time to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with Roxanne Troup and Jennifer Doehring. They have a beautiful new picture book, Happy Birthday America,

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#kidlit Interview with the Awesome and Talented Caroline Perry

June 30, 2026 Carol Gordon Ekster

Carol Gordon Ekster: Welcome, Caroline! I’m so excited to highlight you here at Writers’ Rumpus. Can you tell us about your journey into becoming a

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Ooh! Ahhh! Whoaa! Interview and Giveaway with Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal, the AWEsomely Creative Team Behind AWE!

June 16, 2026 Laura Fineberg Cooper

Yes, the title of this post borrows from this gloriously AWEsome picture book (published March 3, 2026 by Scholastic Press), but I totally couldn’t resist! Both a visual treat (thank you, Susan) and an inspiring read (thank you, Chana), what makes AWE! vault into being one of the best picture books I’ve ever read is how the words and pictures meld together to create a memorable, soul stirring, heart lifting experience.

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Interview with #Kidlit Coauthor of Unbreakable – Jolene Gutiérrez

June 9, 2026 Monica Acker

Storytelling unites generations, preserves culture, and shares the human experience. It can connect us to the past in the hope of a better future. This

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When Narration and Puzzles Intertwine: Creating Storified Puzzle Books

June 5, 2026 Alumni & Guests

Guest Post by Derek Reid I’ve always dealt in the truth and glory of the real universe. When I was five or six years old,

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Picture Book Review: In The World of Whales

June 2, 2026 Genevieve Rossi

In The World of Whales, written by Michelle Cusolito and illustrated by Jessica Lanan, was published by Neal Porter books on June 17, 2025. Upon

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I Wish I Didn’t Have To Tell You This

May 26, 2026 Marti Johnson

I WISH I DIDN’T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS was written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, a Russian-born American author and an artist of many

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Author-Illustrator Janice Hechter: On Art, Persistence, and The Power of Her Paintbrush (Giveaway included!)

March 3, 2026 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

I’m thrilled to welcome back author-illustrator Janice Hechter to the Writers’ Rumpus blog. When we last spoke over the summer (you can check out that

On the left, author/illustrator Nancy So Miller looks at a paper cutout illustration. In the center is the cover of Sun, Moon, and Star: A folktale from Korea. Set on a pink background the cover features three sisters in traditional Korean clothing. To the right of this image is a small blurry square and the words + bonus content, alluding to a cover reveal.

Interview with Author/Illustrator Nancy So Miller

February 24, 2026 Monica Acker

Nancy So Miller (서혜석) is a Korean American children’s book author/illustrator and traveling art teacher based in Savannah, Georgia. She creates handmade, dimensional paper worlds

MG Book Review: The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith

February 17, 2026 Genevieve Rossi

THE PEACH THIEF by Linda Joan Smith (2025) is a middle grade Historical Fiction novel set in 1850s Lancashire, England. I’m grateful to Candlewick Press